Raceway construction



Sept. 4, 1962 A. M. PASlNSKl 3,052,503

RACEWAY CONSTRUCTION Filed March 28, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. A RTHUR M. PAS/NSKI.

ATTORNEY.

P 4, 1962 A. M. PASlNSKl 3,052,503

RACEWAY CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 28, 1960 ARTHUR M. PASINSKI.

BY M QM P 4, 1962 A. M. PASINSKI 3,052,503

RACEWAY CONSTRUCTION Filed March 28, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.4.

IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

ARTHUR M. PAS/NSKI.

. 3, 2 RACEWAY CONSTRUCTION Arthur M. Pasinski, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Mar. 28, 1960, Ser; No. 17,908 4 Claims. (Cl. 308-6) This invention relates generally to bookkeeping machines having a carriage and a function control panel coupled to and movable therewith and more particularly to a raceway construction therefor.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved raceway construction having a continually variable hearing surface.

It is an additional object to provide a raceway construction whose bearing surface is varied by engagement with a tr-ackway.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the invention first briefly described comprises a raceway construction including a pair of parallel rods rotatably mounted in a channel engaging a trackway comprising a plurality of aligned bearing members.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the function control panel as mounted on the bookkeeping machine;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a cross sectional view of the control panel with the panel broken into two portions along line AA with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of the raceway and trackway with parts broken away;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional View showing the raceway construction.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows the bookkeeping machine 11 which is of the general type disclosed and claimed in US. Patent No. 2,629,549, issued to Thomas M. Butler on February 24, 1953, and of common ownership herewith. The carriage 12 is differentially positionable in accordance with a program of operation determined by the function control panel 13. The function control panel is coupled to the side frame 14 of the carriage by a toggle latching mechanism 15 which locks the protruding portion 16 of the control panel. The control panel is of a rigid construction preferably a casting which holds a plurality of pin magazines in channels therein. Each pin magazine holds a plurality of downwardly projecting control pins 17 adapted to cooperate with a number of upwardly projecting tappets 23. The pin magazines can be adjusted to a predetermined height by movement of the adjustable limits in the casting. Support is provided for stationary rail 19 by a plurality of upstanding members including support 18 at the forward side of the machine. A second stationary rail 20 is provided at the rear of the machine with upstanding supports 21 and 22. Each rail carries a differentially positionable ball cage 24 which holds a plurality of spaced ball bearings 25. The paper roll retainer 26 is shown in its raised position to show the elements heretofore described. Rods 27 and 28 extend from side frame 14 to the opposite side frame not shown.

Mating with the ball bearings and forming a raceway portion on opposite edges of the control panel 13 are a pair of rods 29.

FIG. 2 shows a section of the forward portion of the control panel as out along line AA. The control panel is coupled to the side frame 14 by its protruding portion 16. The raceway and trackway structures for the carriage 12 are indicated generally by numerals 30. Support 18 forms a common supporting structure for the carriage and the control panel. End plate 31 provides a limit for the movement of the ball cage 24. The unitized structure of the panel permits individual vertical adjustment by adjusting screws 32 of magazines in each United States Patent 0 2 channel holding control pins 17 at the proper height relative to the opposing array of tappets 23 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a section of the rearward portion of the control panel as cut along line AA. Included in each support 21 and 22 at the rear of the machine is an adjusting screw 33 which permits horizontal adjustment of the control panel 13. The rods 29 are shown engaging one of the plurality of ball bearings 25 therebetween in the longitudinal channel or raceway portion 34 formed by extending longitudinal ribs along the edge of control panel 13.

FIG. 4 shows the detail of the raceway and trackway constructions. Viewed in cross section, each raceway portion 34 of the control panel comprises a channel portion 35 cut along each of two opposite edges of the control panel of a generally dovetailed configuration with an additional cutout at the base of the channel to contain the mounting device for the rods 29. The mounting device comprises a pair of straps 41, one at each end of the two rods and engaging them about a radial grooved portion 36 near each end. Each strap is shaped to retain the rods 29 loosely and ina manner to permit their rotation within the raceway or channel portion 35. The ball cage 24 which is a sheet metal construction having a plurality of ball bearings rotatively retained therein has an upper bent portion 37 which slidably engages a raised rib portion 38 substantially equal in length and on the upper surface of rear rail 20. At the lower end of ball cage 24 and at either end of the rail 20 a plurality of flanged screws 39 are provided which have a cutout flange portion serving as a guide for the lower portion of the ball cage. The rail 20 has a longitudinal groove 40 against the surface of which the ball bearings are maintained in slight frictional engagement.

FIG. 5 shows the detail of the mounting for the rods 29 comprising strap 41 anchored at the base of the channel 35 at the raceway portion of the control panel 34 by screw 42. Two straps are provided each rotatively supporting the pair of rods at a different end and engaging the rods in their radial groove 36. The manner of strap mounting permits movement of the rods 29 toward each other as the tangential forces exerted by the balls upon the rods decrease. Increased tangential forces by the balls upon the rods will cause a clockwise rotation of the upper rod 29 and a counterclockwise rotation of the lower rod 29.

The construction of the raceway provides relatively frictionless movement of the control panel 13 upon the trackway. During differential movement of the panel upon the ball bearings 25, slight variances of the tangential forces exerted by the balls upon the rods will result in application of torque to the rods 29 in a manner to cause them to rotate. The manner of the support provided for the rods will permit them to rotate and to present a differing bearing surface for the ball bearings. In addition, it can be readily appreciated that insertion of a different control panel or removal of a control panel in the machine will provide unequal torque upon the periphery of the rods which will initiate their movement in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction so that the bearing surfaces about the periphery of the rods will be changed. This will result in improved operation and durability because the wear on the rods will be uniformly distributed about their periphery. It is also apparent that the type of raceway construction shown permits the ready removal and insertion of replacement rods when excessive Wear has occurred.

What is claimed is:

1. A raceway for a differentially movable member comprising a pair of ribs defining a longitudinal channel disposed along one side thereof, a pair of parallel rods of circular cross section journalled therein, a radial grooved portion proximate each end of said rods, and means for rotatively retaining said rods in said channel comprising a plurality of straps anchored in said channel and having looped portions engaging said radial grooved portions of said rods.

2. In combination, a diiferentially movable member having a pair of ribs defining a longitudinal channel along one edge thereof, a pair of parallel rods of circular cross section journalled longitudinally therein, each of said rods having a radial grooved portion proximate both ends, and means for rotatively retaining said rods in said channel comprising a plurality of straps anchored in said channel and having looped portions engaging said radially grooved portions thereof, a trackway for said differentially movable member comprising a ball cage, a plurality of ball bearings rotatively retained in longitudinally spaced relationship in said ball cage, said bearings en gaging said rods, providing support for said differentially movable member, and being operable to impart a rotating movement to said rods during differential movement of said rods on said ball bearings.

3. In combination, a differentially movable member having a longitudinal channel along one edge thereof, a pair of parallel spaced rods journalled longitudinally therein, means for rotatively retaining said rods in said channel, and support means including a plurality of ball bearings retained in a ball cage being operable to engage said difierentially movable member intermediate said rods and being operable to rotate said rods during movement of said difierentially movable member.

4. In combination, a difierentially positionable memher having a raceway extending longitudinally along one edge thereof, a pair of spaced parallel rods extending longitudinally of said raceway, rod retaining means restraining said rods against longitudinal movement in said raceway but permitting rotary movement of the rods therein, a fixed support rail adjacent said difierentially positionable member and having a longitudinally extending raceway along one edge thereof facing the raceway in said differentially positionable member, a longitudinally extending ball cage supported from said fixed support rail and located between said support rail and said ditferentially positionable member, and a plurality of ball bearings rotatively retained in and spaced longitudinally of said cage, said ball bearings tangentially engaging the raceway of said support rail and both rods of said difierentially positionable member and rotating said rods during movement of said differentially positionable member along said support rail.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,325,599 Urbieta Dec' 23, 1919 2,672,378 M-cVey Mar. 16, 1954 2,722,917 Geller Nov. 8, 1955 

